hargreaves



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1,, J. HARGREAVES. APPARATUS FOR ELEUTRQLY TIGALLY PRODUCING ALKALIS..

No.-596,1'57. Patented Dec. 28,1897,

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. HARGREAVES. -APPARATUS FOR ELEGTROLYTICALLY PRODUCING ALKALIS.

N0..596,157 Patented Dec. 28, 1897.

(No Model.) J. HARGREAVES. a Sheets-Sheet 3. APPARATUS FOR ELEGTROLYTIGALLY PRODUCING ALKALIS.

No. 596,157 Patented Dec. 23, 1897.

V/Mmm mwm v u 1r. 9% 46m. w,

Nrrn STATES T FFICE;

JAMES HARGREAVES, OF VVIDNES, ENGLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,157, dated December 28, 1897. Application filed March 16, 1896. Serial No. 583,390- (No model.) Patented in England September 2'7, 1893,110. 18,173.

To all 1,071 014) it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES HARGREAVES, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland,residin g at Farnsworth-in-Widnes, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Electrolytic Production of Alkalies and Apparatus Therefor, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in Great Britain, dated September 27, 1893, No. 18,173,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved construction of electrolytic cell applicable for use in decomposing chlorids, iodids, bromids, nitrates, and other salts, the objects being, first, to render such apparatus less expensive to construct and more convenient to manipulate, and, secondly, to yield the alkali or product in a much more pure condition than is attainable by the methods heretofore employed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents three cells constructed in accordance with the present invention and designed to effect the objects aimed at, two cells being shown in vertical section and one in end elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan corresponding with Fig. 1, one of the cells being shown in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken through the electrolyte-compartment of the cell. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are views in section, illustrating examples of anodes consisting, respectively, of serrated,v perforated, and grooved carbon plates.

The improved cell may be arranged vertically and be built up of sections a a and b, which are maintained in position by bolts a a. The outer or inclosing sections a a may be of cast-iron or other metal or conducting material, and the section b of slate, glass, stoneware, or other non -conducting substance. The cathodes c c and their diaphragms d d are placed'on the opposite sides of the section 1), between that section and the inner flanged portion of each of the outer sections a a, the

diaphragms'being disposed next to the section b. On the parts being pressed'tightly together by means of the bolts a a a watertight electrolyte-chamber is formed between the diaphragms, in which chamber the anode e e, which may be in the form of carbon penoils, is inclosed. The anode may consist of rough pieces of retort-carbon and the cathode may be composed of copper cloth or gauze. The cathodes afford a certain amount of support to their neighboring diaphragms.

The parts are preferably arranged as shown in the drawings. The outer plates at a inclose collecting-spaces ff, in which the product is obtained, the opposite sides of these spaces being bounded by the electrodes 0, against which are disposed the diaphragms d cl. The chamber or compartment 9 for containing the electrolyte is bounded on its two sides by the diaphragms d d and environed by the section Z). The submerged electrodes 6 6 may extend through orifices in the upper environin g portion of the section b, and are furnished with means for connecting the same with the electric supply.

In order to prevent deterioration of the diaphragm by corrosion at the surface-level of the electrolyte in the compartment g, the earthenware section b is furnished with dependent flanges b b, which descend below the surface of the liquid.

h is the supply-pipe for the electrolyte, It being a branch pipe for conducting the brine to a funnel-shaped receiving-tube 7?, which descends into the chamber g.

- The chlorin or gaseous product as Well as the spent brine or electrolyte pass away by the pipe 11 into the main .pipe 71'.

7c is the outlet for the product, and 7a a trough or channel for conveying the same away.

The cell thus embodies a compartment g, containing the electrolyte and submerged electrode 6, and two collecting spaces or chambers ff, where the product is obtained from the electrodes 0 o, the latter not being submerged in liquid. the form of solution, it does not accumulate, but escapes from the collecting-spaces f f through out-let orifices or pipes k to a trough or channel 76'. Steam, air, or other gas, or a If the product be in mixture of steam and (for example) carbonicacid gas, may be conveyed by pipes Z Z to the collecting-spaces f f, the steam (when used with carbonic-acid gas) being preferably brought by a separate pipe Z and admitted into the carbonic-acid pipe Z in the form of a small jet, with the effect that a more rapid current of carbonic-acid gas is induced. Any

excess of steam or gas passes away through the outlet 70. The moisture resulting from the condensation of the steam is generally suilicient to remove the product from the uncovered or exposed faces of the electrodes 0 0; but if this moisture be found insufficient for the purpose water may be injected against the cathode by any convenient means. lVhen carbonic-acid gas is required in the spaces f f-as, for instance, in the production of carbonate-the supply of carbonic-acid gas may be taken from the exhaust of a gas-engine, furnace, or other convenient or economical source.

m m are horizontal bars arranged across the surface of the cathode c, with a view to maintaining it in proper relation to its diaphragm and enabling it to withstand the pressure due to the head of liquid contained in the electrolyte-compartment.

The improved cell maybe used as a single cell, or several such cells may be arranged a suitable distance apart and be connected either in parallel or in series. If the former method of working be adopted, all the anodes are connected with the positive pole and all the cathodes (through the medium of the metal plates to a) with the negative pole of a battery or other source of electrical energy. \Vhen working several cells in series, the positive conductor is connected with the anode of the end cell and the cathodes of that cell are connected with the anode of the next nearest cell, and so on, the cathodes of the final cell being connected with the negative conductor. These modes of arranging the connections are, however, well known.

The electric current may be reversed, so that the electrodes 0 0 become exposed anodes and the electrodes 6 e submerged cathodes, the apparatus being thus rendered applicable for employment, by way of example, in decomposing sulfate of ammonia. In this case ammonia would be given off from the submerged cathodes in gaseous form, sulfuric acid being yielded at and constantly washed down from the exposed anodes. The anodes may consist of platinum-wire gauze or of serrated, perforated, or grooved carbon plates, as illustrated, by way of example, in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. If heat be applied to the decomposing chambers or compartments f f, the quantity of ammonia-gas given off is considerably increased. The gas is led away and subsequentlycondensed in the usual manner.

The diaphragm I prefer to employ is not porous in the ordinary acceptation of the term and is not capable of filtering,except to a very minute extent. It is, however, permeable to moisture by osmotic force. Substances of a colloidal nature, such as membranes of animals, are examples of this type of diaphragm; but owing to the destructive action upon them of the electrolyte or of the products of electrolysis these substances are only applicable for employment in a very limited degree.

A diaphragm which I have found to give the best results is composed of asbestos paper, the pores whereof are filled with hydrated silicate of lime or magnesia. In preparing this diaphragm disintegrated asbestos fiber, along with milk of lime, is thrown or deposited upon a deckle-frame in such quantity as to acquire the substance of thick paper or mill-board. The paper or board thus obtained is then steeped in a solution of silicate of soda, whereby the lime is converted into a silicate. The character of the diaphragm as regards porosity may vary to some extent; but if it be made readily permeable a portion of the electrolyte will filter through and injuriouslyaifeet the purity of the ion or product. The diaphragm should be so prepared that it does not permit the transferrenee of the electrolyte while the cell is inactive, but on the application of the electric current permits soda or other product of electrolysis to pass and be deposited upon the cathode, the product being simultaneously and continuously removed by the moisture from the condensed steam or the water present in the collecting-compartment,whereby diffusion of the product back into the anode or electrolyte compartment of the cell is prevented.

It may be observed that before decomposition by electrolysis can take place in the cell the diaphragm must be wet through with salt solution. On the application of the electric current decomposition will commence, the salt solution or electrolyte then passing by osmosis.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. An electrolytic cell having compartments separated by a diaphragm which, although slightly porous, is impermeable as a filter, an anode a cathode of open texture,such as wiregauze, in contact with the face of the diaphragm remote from the anode, and means, such as a steam-generator,for supplying steam which becomes condensed upon,or for directing a current of steam against,the uncovered face of the cathode, substantially as herein described.

2. The herein-described electrolytic process which consists in providing the chamber containing the electrolyte with a boundary composed of a diaphragm impermeable as a filter in contact with a cathode of open texture, such as wire-gauze, there being directed against the cathode thus exposed a spray or jet of steam which becomes condensed and washes awayfrom the cathode the cathion as rapidly as it is formed.

JAMES IIARGREAVES.

\Vitnesses:

ARTHUR WEATHERILT, ERNEST SAMUEL BADDELEY. 

